Machine for processing the reflectors of sealed beam lamps



June 5. 1956 M. E. MCGOWAN ET AL MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLECTORSOF SEALED BEAM LAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2O 1951 PEZZI/LE#ENT/N@ d2 INVENTORS /Wl E McM//M/ H- 7:. H/76`EZ ATTORNE M. E. MCGOWANET AL. MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLECTORS June 5, 1956 OF SEALED BEAMLAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2O 1951 June 5, 1956 M. E, MCGOWAN ETAL 2,748,738

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLEcToRs oF SEALED BEAM LAMPS Filed Feb.20, 1951 S Sheets-Sheet 5 A OOIKI'NHU i* m f? @IMM Z,

A, H J9 I, "HMM www AAM j MIO Z5 INVENTORS 7V- E Mc @0H/HIV H. P. fmt-Lim f ATTORNE M. E. MCGOWAN ET AL MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLECTORSJune 5, 1956 OF SEALED BEAM LAMPS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 2O 1951June 5, 1956 M. E. MCGOWAN ETAL 2,748,738

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLECTORS OF' SEALED BEAM LAMPS Filed Feb.20, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 dr* M ATTORN EY June 5. 1956 M E, MCGOWAN ETAL 277487733 MACHINE FOR PROCESSING TEE EEEEECTORS OE SEALED BEAM LAMPSFiled Feb'. 20, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet G "w ATTORNEL/ June 5, 1.956 M. E.MCGOWAN ET AL 23489738 MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REFLECTORS 0F SEALEDBEAM LAMPS Filed Feb. 2O 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 7 56 195 ,l 194 Z5 w 5%351379 wwwa-N /5 37 j M M A A. m 37A-` M4 HNVENTORS P7' E'. MC 50M/HVVH. P. #H5514 June 5. 1956 M. E. MGGOWAN. ET AL 2,748,738

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING THE REELEcToRs 0E SEALED BEAM LAMPS Filed Feb.20, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORN EY MACHINE FOR PRCESSING THE REFLECTORSF SEALED BEAM LAlVIPS Michael E. McGowan and Henry P. Hasellrloomtield,N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh,Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 20, 1951, SerialNo. 211,956

s claims. (ci. 113-59) This invention relates to a method and machinefor securing leads to sealed beam lamps and, more particularly, to asixteen head lead brazing machine which the reilector portions areautomatically fed to andremoved from.

The principal object of our invention, generally considered, is toprovide for automatic brazing of support leads to the interior ofcontact ferrules on the reflector portions of sealed beam lamps, and theremoval of oxidation from the exterior end portions of said ferrules sothat lugs may then be soldered thereto.

Another object of our invention is to proivde apparatus for securingleads to sealed beam lamp ferrules, and

removing oxidation from the exterior of the latter preparatory tosoldering lugs thereto, comprising a conveyor with heads eachfor holdinga sealed beam lamp reflector portion carrying a center and two endcontact ferrnles, means for causing said conveyor to index said' lamps,one by one, from station to station, a brazing inachine comprising aspider carrying a plurality of heads' arranged in a circle about avertical axis, each of said heads being adapted to hold one of saidreliector portions, means for rotating said spider, step by step, aboutsaid axis for indexing the heads thereon through a plurality ofpositions, transfer apparatus between said conveyor and brazing machinefor transporting said reflector'. portions, one by one, from a selectedindexed position on said conveyor to a selected indexed position. onsaid brazing machine, means at one of the indexed positions on thebrazing machine for heating the ferrules of an indexed lamp whilefeeding a pellet of solder or a pellet ofiiux thereto, means at thenextindexed position for heating while feeding pellets of tiux or solderare fed to said ferrules, means at a subsequent indexed position for,while still heating, inserting one lead wire in the center and one endferrule and two lead wires in the other end ferrule, means at asubsequent position for cleaning the .c

oxidation from the exterior of said ferrules in streams of hydrogenignited to iiamesl by the heat Vot saidv ferrules and moving said flamestoward said ferrules to snui them thereover and allow said ferrules tocool in streams of hydrogen, means at subsequent positions for coolingin` air, transfer means for moving said reflectorl portions, one by one,from a selected indexed position on the brazing machine to a selectedindexed position on the conveyor, and means adjacent the discharge endvof said conveyor for removing said reector portions, one by one,

therefrom for transfer to a mounting machine.

Other objects and advantages of the inventiomrelating to the particulararrangement and construction off. the various parts, will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

In the scale drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying pur invention. i

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of.v the apparatus shown in Figurel.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III ofy Figure 2, inthe direction of the arrows.

nited States Patent O ICC f) Figure 4 isV anenlarged plan of a portionof the brazing apparatus shown in Figure l.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line V-V ofA Figure 4, in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 6V is a vertical sectional view of a portion of` thepellet-feeding wheel of. Figure 5, showing in detail. on an enlargedscale, the shape of a pellet-receiving.

Figure 1() is a diagrammatic elevational view of thel cam and connectingmechanism for vertically reciprocating the tires and feeding solder,flux pellets and lead wires to the ferrules of lamp reflector portions,on the line X-X of Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure l1 is an elevational View, with parts in section, showing the camand associated mechanism, in lowermost position, preparatory to burningthe oxidation from the ferrules of such lamp reflector portions.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding` with a portionofFigure ll, but on anenlarged scale, showing the mechanism in the nexthigher position where the ow of hydrogen has been ignited by a hotferrule and'is burning oxidation from the surfaceV thereof.

Figure 13 isa fragmentary view corresponding with Figure v12, butshowing the highest position of the apparatus, where a hydrogen burnerhas moved over a ferrule, causing the arne to be snuffed and theenclosed errule to beV cooled in hydrogen.

Figure 14 is a detailed view on the lineV XIV-XIV of Fig. l, showingapparatus for subsequently cooling the ferrules by blasts of air; v

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view on the line XV- XV of Figure 2,in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is an axial sectional view of a reiiector portion -of a sealedbeam lamp adapted to be handled by apparatus embodying our invention.

In the manufacture of sealed beam lamps, contact or terminal ferruleshave sharp edges thereof embedded in the exterior of the reliectorportion, around apertures through whichsupporting leads to the filamentsextend. These leads are brazed' or soldered to the interior surfaces ofsuch ferrules in a lamp having two filaments and three ferrules, one ofsaid ferrules carrying tWo leads. After the leads have been brazed tothe ferrules, it has been the practice to index the latter while red hotover so-called clean-up cups through which hydrogen was liowing, andimmediatelysurround the hot ferrules with the clean-up cups and attemptto cool them in the hydrogen atmosphere. The, results were notconsistent, and in most cases the ferrules' were only partially cleanedof oxidation. lt was also necessary to make such clean-up cups conformexactly to the shape of the ferrules.

Our method of removing oxidation from such ferrules is by indexing thelatter while red hot over clean-up cups from which hydrogen iiows andwhich are raised toward the ferrules. The cups are stopped in theirupward motionv approximately 1/2" from the ferrules for aproximately 2seconds, during which period the flowing hydrogen ignited'by the heat ofthe ferrules, burns off the oxidation. Further upward movement of thecups, which are made to lit only the large vdiameter of the ferrules,smothers the hydrogen flames. The cups remain in such position for abouttwo seconds, thereby cooling the ferrules in Patented June 5, 1956 u ahydrogen atmosphere, whereupon they are removed and the ferrules furthercooled in blasts of air.

in addition to this ferrule cleaning, we have provided automaticapparatus including a conveyor for indexing the ferrule-carryingreflector portions of sealed beam lamps, step by step; mechanism at acertain location transferring such reflector portions one by one fromsaid conveyor to a head on an automatic brazing machine, said machineperforming automatically the operations of he-ating while feeding;first, solder (or ux) pellets, then tlux (or solder) pellets(collectively called pellets of processing material), and then lead-insupport wires to the ferrules, thereby automatically assembling theparts, and subsequently cooling them in hydrogen and then in air fortransfer back to the conveyor from whence they are, in turn, moved to amounting machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by likereference character, the apparatus of our invention, one embodiment onlyof which is illustrated, comprises the following parts which will bedescribed in order. In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a conveyor 21 fortransporting the aluminized or reflecting portions 22, of sealed beamlamps, termed reectors" for short, and each carrying as shown in Figure16, three contact ferrules, that is end ferrules 23 and 24 and a center"ferrule 25, from a position, at which the retlectors are loaded by hand,from the machine (not shown) which applies the aluminizing or aluminumreflecting coating thereto, to transfer or loading apparatus 26, whichmoves each reector from the station 27, when indexed thereat, to a head28 on the brazing machine 29, when said head is indexed at a positionadjacent said conveyor. The operator places each retiector in a head ofthe conveyor in such position that the plane of the end ferrules 23, 24,and exhaust tube 388, coincides, at least approximately, with themid-vertical longitudinal plane of the conveyor 21.

The brazing machine 29 comprises a spider 31, which is supported on apedestal 30 and vertical shaft 32 carried thereby and to which it iskeyed (Figure 3) and driven by motor 33 through means, to besubsequently described, so that it rotates intermittently and indexesthe heads, or blocks secured to a peripheral plate portion 28, andforming heads therewith, step by step, at each of sixteen stations aboutthe periphery thereof.

Calling the Station l at which the head 28 is indexed when it rstreceives a reector 22 from the transfer apparatus 26` said reector ismoved through Station 2 and indexed at Station 3," where it is heatedand a pellet 34 of solder (or flux) is fed to each of its ferrules 23,24, and 25. At Station 4, while still being heated, a pellet 35 of ux(or solder, if the first set of pellets fed thereto was flux) is fed toeach of its ferrules, 23, 24 and 25. The reflector then passes throughheating Stations 5, 6, and on to Station 7 where one lead Wire 36 is fedto each of ferrules 23 and 25 and two lead wires 36 are fed to other endferrule 24.

At Stations 8 and 9 ferrule heating is continued insuring that the leadwires become well embedded in the fluxed solder for securing said leadsto said ferrules. At Station 10, as shown in Figure 12, cups 37 fromwhich hydrogen ows pass into they vicinity of said ferrules, the streamof hydrogen from the cups being ignited by the heat from the ferrulesand burning o the oxidation thereof. As viewed in Figure 13, the cups 37then move further upward, enveloping the lower portions of the ferrules,snuihng the hydrogen tiames, and insuring that said ferrules are cooledin hydrogen, thereby preventing re-oxidation.

After withdrawal of the cups 37, said ferrules are F cooled at Stations11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, by jets of air from tubes 38, 39 and 40, asviewed in Figure 14.

At Station 16, as shown in Figure 15, the reflectors with leads embeddedin and secured to the de-oxidized ferrules, are unloaded from thebrazing machine and transferred back to the conveyor 21, see Figures land 2. The conveyor, on moving two stations further reaches a transferor unloading device 41 which removes therefrom the reflectors, one byone, for transfer to a mounting machine (not shown).

Driving and conveyor mechanism All of the apparatus, heretoforegenerally described, is in the embodiment illustrated driven from asingle source of power such as the motor 33, so that the parts operatein the desired synchronism. The motor 33 has a pulley or sprocket wheel42 which drives the pulley or sprocket wheel 43 on a shaft 44 fromreduction gear box 45, by means of a belt or chain 46. Turning the shaft44 causes turning of the shaft 47 to which it is geared. This in turncauses the step by step, or indexing, rotation of the spider 31,carrying the heads 28, through mechanism in gear box 48, including a camwheel (not shown) with axially offset portions sequentially engagingrollers 50 on arms 80 outstanding from the shaft 32 to which they art1secured. Such mechanism being standard in such equipment (see, forexample, the drive for the spider 106 through its vertical shaft 108 bygear 112 carried thereon and formed by a series of rollers 113; withwhich the present arms 80 and rollers 50 correspond; driven by wheel 114formed with a trough portion which joins axially Offset trough portions120 and 130; with which the unillustrated present cam wheel maycorrespond; forming a cam device for driving the spider step-by-step, asdisclosed in the Green application, Serial No. 62,343, tiled November27, 1948, now Patent No. 2,569,852, dated October 2, 1951) is notillustrated in detail.

Motion is transmitted from shaft 47 to shaft 49 through gears in box 51,and from shaft 49 to shaft 52 through gears in box 53. The shaft 52carries sprocket wheel 54 over which travels a chain 55 driving asprocket wheel 56 on shaft 57. The shaft 57 drives a shaft 58, through aconventional Geneva movement 59. The shaft 58 carries a bevel gear 61meshing with a bevel gear 61 meshing with a bevel gear 62 on shaft 63,carrying a sprocket wheel 64 over which a chain 65 travels, transmittingmotion to sprocket wheel 66 on shaft 67, carrying drive sprocket wheel68 over which the conveyor chain 69 passes. A driven sprocket wheel 70,carries the conveyor chain 69 at the other end of the conveyor 21.

The conveyor chain 69 comprises a series of heads 71 and links 72 ofequal dimension longitudinally of the chain, connected together byhorizontal pivot pins 60 (Figure 3) so that they are articulated withrespect to one another and adapted to pass around the sprocket wheels 68and 70 at their respective cnds. Each head is in the form of curvedprongs forming a partially annular support, as shown most clearly inFigures l and 3, of a size such that reflector portions of sealed beamlamps, such as those of the commercial 7 type, each carrying an exhausttube and three Contact ferrules, may seat thereon and be carried fromright to left, as viewed in Figure 1. On account of the Geneva movementbetween the shafts 57 and 58, these heads move from one station to thenext with each complete 360 rotation of the shaft 57, so that as areector is moved from station 27 on the conveyor to the rst station onthe transfer apparatus 26, the next reector portion is moved to saidstation 27 to take its place, preparatory to being picked up by saidtransfer mechanism.

Mechanism for transferring refectors to and from brazi/ig machine Thetransfer mechanism 26 is operated by four grooved cams, 73, 74, and 76,fixed on frame-carried shaft 57. The cam 73 is for raising and loweringthe cups or holders 77, 78, 79 and 81 (Fig. 3) of the mechanism fortransferr-ing reilectors from the conveyor 21 to the brazing machine 29,While the cam 75 is for simultaneously lowering and raising the cups orholders 82,83, 84 and 85 (Fig. l5)4 for transferring reflectors from thebrazing` machine, after the desired work has been performed thereon,back to said conveyor.

Each of the transfer cups is apertured, as indicated at 90, to receivethe exhaust tube 388 of the reilector being carried thereon. The upperface of the concave supporting portion of each cup is provided withdepressions or pockets 100, to guidingly receive the ferrules 23, 24`and 25 of the supported reflector and either hold it in the desiredoriented relationship or, if not initially exactly properly oriented, totwist it the necessary amount so as to orient said reflector to theposition necessary for properly'processing it on the brazing machine.

The cam 74 is for moving said cups 77 to 81, inclusive, out toward theconveyor and back at the time they are being raised and lowered, sothatthe reflectors 22 travel, step by step, from the conveyor to thebrazing machine. At the same time, the cam 76 moves the cups 82 to 85,inclusive, out from the brazing machine toward the conveyor and back,while said cups are being simultaneously raised and lowered by the'cam75, so as to be at the same time transferring reflectors carried by saidcups from said brazing machine back to said conveyor.

inasmuch as the transfer of said reilectors to and from the brazingmachine is not in one step, it is necessary to have nesting socketsbetween said conveyor and brazing machine, said sockets being providedbyy segmental de'- pressions 36, 87 and 88 in vertical frame plates 89,and 91, for the incoming line of'reectors, and corresponding depressions92, 93 and 94 in the vertical framev plates 95 and 96 for the outgoing`line of reflectors.

The cups 77, 78 and 79, as well as the specially shaped cup 81 formed asiingers 97 projecting toward the brazing machine, are all mounted on aninverted channel member 98, the flanges 99 of which havefslots 101y and102 in whichA move rollers 103 and 104 pivotally mounted on links 105and 106. These links 105 and 106 also respectively carry rollers 107 and108, moving in vertical.

slots 109 and 111, in the plate 89.

Vertical reciprocatory movement of channel member 98 and its cups isthus effected, by the cam 73, on rotating, acting on the roller 112 onlink 113, slotted as indicated at 114, so as to reciprocate over block115. This reciprocatory motion is transmitted through pivot'pin 116 tocrank 117 fixed on frame-carried shaft 118, and through said shaft tobell crank lever 119, also xed thereon. The arm 121 of lever 119 isconnected to the lower end of linky 105 by pin 122, while arm 123 oflever 119 is connected by'pin 124 to link 125. Link 125 is connected' toarm 126 of bell crank lever 127 by pin 128. Arm 129 of said lever 127 onframe-carried shaft 131,.is, connected to the lower end of link 106 bypin 132.

The horizontal or in-and-out movement of they cups 77 to 81 inclusive,is simultaneously' effected by cam 74, not shown in detail in Figure 3,but identical with theA cam 76 as shown in Figure l5, insofar as itsshape and position is concerned. However, this cam is 90 out ofV phase,with respect to the cam 73, in the opposite direction as compared withthe out of phase relationship between the cams 75 and 76 of Figure l5.ln other words, the cam 74 causes the link 133 and carried engagingroller not shown but like the roller 183 in Figure l5., to be in itsposition nearest, the brazing machine 29`when theV cups '77 w81,inclusive, are in lowered position; as contrasting with that position ofthe link 135 when the cups 82 to 85', inclusive, are in raised position.This difference is, of course, necessary so that the carried reilectorsare moved in one direction by one mechanism and in the oppositedirection by the other. j

The link 133 is connected to lever 136, pivoted to the plate 89 by shaft137, by pin 138. The free endjof the lever 136 is pivoted to the link139 by pin 141 and the other end of said link is, in turn, pivotallyconnected to. a lug 142, projecting from the channel 98, bypin 143.

FromV the foregoing, it will be seen that as the shaft 57 rotatesvcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, the cam 73 alternativelyraises and lowers channel 98, and the reflectors carried on the cupsthereof, the rollers 107 and 108 respectively traveling in the slots 109and 111, while at the same time the cam 74 causes outward movement olsaid cups, the slots 101 and 102 permitting such travel on. lthe rollers103 and 104, to the position indicated at 7S for the cup 78. Thus, notonly is the reflector at station 27 lifted from the conveyor, but alsoeach of the reflectors lifted fr m the segmental depressions 86, 87 and88 and transported one station inward or toward the brazing machine.This means that the reflector on the conveyor at station 27 is movedtoward the brazing machine and placed in segmental depressions 86,rellector in segmental depressions 86 is simultaneously transported tosegmental depressions 87, that in segmental depressions 37 istransported and left in segmental depressions 83, while that insegmental depressions 88 is transported and left underneath a head ofbrazing machine at Station l thereof, in position to be engaged byloading cup 144 and lifted from the lingers 97 into locking engagementwith the overlying head 28, in a manner which will be subsequentlyexplained.

The cups S2, 83 and 84, as well as the specially shaped cup 8S formed asfingers 145 projecting toward the brazing machine, are all mounted on aninverted channel member 146, the anges 1417 of which have slots 14d and1059 in which move rollers 151 and 152 pivotly mounted on links 153 and1521. These links also respectively carry rollers 155 and 155 moving invertical slots 157 and 153 in the plate 95.

Vertical reciprocatory movement of channel member 14e and its cups isthus eifected by the cam 75 on rotation acting on roller 159 on link161, slotted as indicated at 162 so as to reciprocate on block 163. Thisreciprocatory motion is transmitted through pivot pin 16e to crank 165,fixed on frame-carried shaft 166, and through said shaft to bell cranklever 167, also xed thereon. The arm 163 of said lever is connected tothe lower end of link 153 by pin 117, while arm 172 of said lever isconnected by pin 173 to link 174. Link 174 is connected to arm 175 ofbell crank lever 176 by pin 177. Arm 178 of said lever 17o, on framecarried shaft 179, is connected to the lower end of link 154 by pin 182.

The horizontal, or in-and-out, movement of the cups 82 to 35, inclusive,is simultaneously effected by cam 76 acting on link 13S through roller183. The link 135 is similar to the link 161, insofar as its movementwith respect to the shaft 57 is concerned, except that said movement isgenerally horizontal rather than vertical. The free end of the link isconnected to a lever 184 by pin 185. The lever 184 is pivoted to theplate 95 by shaft 185, and its free end is pivoted to the link 187 bypin 188. The other end of the link 187 is, in turn, pivotally connectedto a lug 189, projecting from the channel 146, by pin 191.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the shaft 57 rotatescounter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure l5, the cam 75 alternately lowersfrom the position there illustrated, and raises. channel 1116 and thereflectors carried by the cups thereof; the rollers and 156,respectively, traveling in the slots 157 and 158. At the same time, thecam 76 causes alternate outward and inward movement of said cups, theslots 1&8 and 15:9 permitting such travel on the rollers 151 and 152; toa position comparablewitli that indicated at 78 in Figure 3 for the cup'70.

T hns, not only is a rellector removed from a head at position "16 ofthe brazing machine, by lingers 145, but also reflectors are lifted fromthe segmental depressions 94, 93 and 92, and transported one stationoutward or toward the conveyor 21. This means that the reflector in thehead at Station 16 of the brazing machine is moved toward the conveyorand placed in segmental depressions 94, the reflector in segmentaldepressions 94 is Removing reflector from transferring apparatus to headat Station "1 and unloading reflectors at Station "16 of brazingmac/tine Each head 2S on the brazing machine 29 is formed with aplurality, preferably three latches 192 which swing from releaseposition, illustrated in Figure l5, to locking position illustrated inFigure 3, where they underlie the rim of a reflector and hold saidreflector in place on a head of the brazing machine when indexed atStation "1. Each latch or reector clamping cam 192 pivots about a pin193 and has a keeper 194 which, when in the position of Figures 3 andlli, tends to pull the latch to reflecton supporting position by meansof spring 195, as there shown, while when the position of Figure 15, akeeper hook portion 196 overlies a latch lug 197 and holds the latch 192in unlocking position. It tends to stay in such position due to actionof the spring 19S, until released by moving the tail of. the keeperupwardly until the hook portion 196 moves away from the lug 197. Thislocking and unlocking action is made use of in the loading of reflectoron, and unloading of the reflector from, the brazing machine, as willnow be explained.

The shaft S2 carries a cam 199 in which rides a roller 201 on a lever292, carried on the trarne portion 293 of the razing machine by pivotpin 264i, as shown in Figure 3. The free end of the lever 232 isconnected to a cupped sleeve 263 sliding on a rod 296. The upper end ofsaid rod supports a loading cup 144 connected thereto by a set screw andshaped to nestingly receive the ferrule portions ot rcilectors 22, likethe transfer cups 77, 78, 79, 32. S3 and 84, and a platform 1.9()carrying upstanding rods 24.10, each of which carries a roller 20Sengageable with a tail 19S of a keeper 194., in order to release thelatches 192 for holding a reflector The connection between the lever232, the free end of which is desirably bifurcated to fit around the rod206. and the sleeve 295. is by a pair of links 212, the upper ends ofwhich arc connected to the lever by pins 213, and the lower ends ofwhich are pivotcd to studs 214, outstanding from the sleeve. The sleeve255 is adjustable on the rod 236 by nuts 215. lviotion is resilientlytransmitted from the sleeve 255 to the rod through coil spring 216 onsaid rod, the lower end of which `seats in a pocket opening upwardly onsleeve 235, and the upper end of which engages a collar 217 fixed on therod 206 which is slidably guided in the frame portion 203.

The loading cup 1441, as viewed in Figure 3, operates m the followingmanner to fasten a reflector in a head of the brazing ma te when saidhead is at position "l." When the shaft o/ is positioned 180 from thatshown in Figure 3, thc reflector heid by the fingers 97 is in raisedposition, corresponding with the dotted line positions of the reflectorsshown above the transfer cups '77, 78 and 79. At the same time, theloading cup 144 is in lower most position, so that it underlies areflector supported by the ngers 97.

As movement of the mechanism continues, the fingers 97 are lowered,while the loading cup 144 is raised, lifting the reflector from thengers 97 to the position shown in Figure 3. The rollers 263 on rising,trip the keepers 194 by pushing upwardly on the tails 198 thereof,releasing the latches .id/2. Upon further upward movement the reflector22 passes beyond the upper ends of said latches. which then dropunderneath its edge to the position shown in Figure 3, locking theretlector in place. rhe loading cup 144 is then withdrawn to allowanother reflector to be moved into position thereabove, for placing itin the succeeding head upon indexing of the head shown in Figure 3, fromStation to Station 2.

8 In moving to latched or clamped position, the reflector 22 also pushesupwardly on a rod 218 carrying a roller 219 at its upper end, which isto perform a function later described. The rod 218 slides in a bushing21.0 through which a set screw 211 passes. The inner end portion of theset screw 210 is received in a kcyway 2tl7 in the rod 218, (Fig. 7) tolimit its travel. The lower surface of the plate portion 28, to whichthe relcctor is clamped,

carries a series of blocks forming, with the plate portion 23, heads 221in which are passages 222 for feeding redect... processing materials tothe errttics 23, 24 and 25, in a manner which will be later explained.Each block is held in place beneath the plate 25 by means of a bolt 220.l

After the reflectors have been processed on the brazing machine, theyare removed from Station 16 thereof by similar mechanism shown in Figurel5. In this figure, the shaft 52, as shown, carries a cam 223 in whichrides a roller 224 pivoted on a lever 225 carried on the frame portion226 of the brazing machine by pivot pin 227. The free end of the lever225 is connected to a cupped sleeve 228 sliding on a rod 229. The upperend of said rod supports a platform 231 carrying opstanding rods 232,each of which carries a roller 233 cngageable with a latch or clampingcam 192 and properly positioned for supporting the peripheral portion ofa reflector. The lever 225 has its free end bifurcated to tit around therod 229, and is connected to the sleeve 223 by a pair of links 233, theupper ends of which are connected to the lever by pins 234, and thelower ends of which are pivoted to studs 235 outstanding from the sleeve228. The sleeve is adjustable on the rod 229 by nuts 236. Motion isresiliently transmitted from the sleeve 228 to the rod 229 through coilspring 237 on said rod, the lower end of which seats in a pocket openingupwardly on the sleeve 228, and the upper end of which engages a collar238 fixed on the rod 229 which is slidably guided in the frame portion226.

The unloading platform 231 and its roller-carrying rods 232 operate inthe following manner to remove a reflector from a head at Station 16 ofthe brazing machine, after processing by said machine. As the shaft 52turns, prior to reaching the position shown in Figure 15, the rollers233 on upward movement of the platform 231 resiliently first engage thelatches 192, and release them from the rim of the reflector carried onthe head as there shown. Upon further movement, the reflector is engagedand carried down, while resting on the rollers 233, until it issupported by the lingers therebeneath. Further movement causes thefingers to rise above the rollers 233, carry the reflector outwardly,and leave it in the supporting depressions 94, while at the same timethe reflectors in said depressions and those outwardly thereof arecarried one station further outwardly toward the con veyor 21.

Mechanism for vertically reciprocating Ille /fires and operating t/zefeed mechanism for the solder, flux and leads At Stations 3 to "9,inclusive, through which the reflectors are sequentially moved, theferrules of said reflectors are heated by fires from gas fixtures 239.These fixtures aremounted on a pair of manifold plates 241 and 242(Figs. 5, 7 and 10) preferably three on one plate and four onthe other,and a simultaneously raised as each reflector is indexed at a givenstation by mechanism operated from a manifold-operating or fire-liftingcam 243 fixed on the shaft 47 (Figs. l and l0). Rotation of the cam 243oscillates the lever 244, carrying roller 245 riding therein, and fixed0n a shaft 246 carried by bracket 247 from a frame portion 248 of thebrazing machine. The other end `of the lever 244 is connected to a link249 by pivot pin 251. The other end ot" said link is pivotally connectedby pin 252 to a manifold-supporting 9 member 253, slidably mounted inguide. 254 carried by frame portion 248.

The shaft 246 is extended i1: wardly and has fixed thereto a crank 255,the free end of which is connected to a link 256 by pin 257. The otherend of said link 256 is pivotally connected to the arm 258 of bell cranklever 259 by pin 261. The lever 259 is pivotally connected to bracket2627 carried by the frame portion 243, by pin 263. The other arm 264 ofthe lever 259 is pivotally connected to a link 265 by pin 266. The otherend of the link 265 is pivotally connected to manifold-supporting member267 by pin 268. The supporting member 267' is slidably mounted in guide269 and carries the manifold plate 242.

Solder and flux feeding mechanism The manifold plate 241 not only raisesand lowers the vlires as needed, uponY indexingof the reflectors, butalso operates the feed drums of mechanism 271 for feeding pellets ofsolder (or flux) to the reflector ferrules and the mechanism 272 forfeeding pellets of flux (or solder, as the order of feeding the solderand flux is not essential), to said ferrules. However, in the presenternbodiment we employ a motor 273, carried by the frame of the brazingmachine, for initially removing such pellets from the respective hoppers274 and 275, and placing them in position to be fed to the reectorferrules at Stations 3 and"4,7 respectively. The motor 273 carries aworm 276 on its armature shaft driving a gear wheel 277, fixed on shaft278. The shaft 278 also carries a gear 279, or wheel the periphery ofwhich is toothed, engaging a spring member 281 projecting from theguides 282 down which the solder pellets 34 travel on their way to thefeed drums 283, for vibrating said guides to prevent clogging of saidpellets.

The shaft 278 also carries a pulley 284 transmitting motion to pulley285 on shaft 286 by means of a belt 287. The shaft 236 is mounted in theframing 288 which supports the solder (or flux) pellet hopper 274 andcarries three notched wheels 289, for withdrawing pellets one by onefrom the hopper and allowing them to slide down to the guides 282, at arate fast enough to supply the reflectors being processed. Thenotches-291 in the wheels 289 are desirably of the special shape andsize illustrated in Figure 6, so as to hold pellets 34 of generallycylindrical shape in the position there illustrated. In order to preventsuch pellets from falling out of the Wheels 209 when not near the screen292 on which they are to be rst dropped, we provide shields 293 carriedby arms 294 pivoted to the frame 288 by pins 295 and urged into theengagement with the respective wheels by springs 296.

In order to prevent undue accumulation in the pellets on the guides 282,each guide is provided with a relief aperture 297 through which pellets,tending-to accumulate thereabove, drop into a receptacle 298. Areceptacle 299, is also provided beneath the hopper 274 for catchingpellets which escape to the sides of the wheels 289, and drop from thehopper 274 down along passages 301.

The feed drums or discs 283 are three in number, one for each reflectorferrule, and mounted on a shaft 302 carrying a ratchet 303. Each disc283 has a series of pellet-receiving notches or depressions, spacedcircumicrentially to correspond with, the spacing of the teeth ofratchet 303. The shaft is operated to feed one pellet to each of threetubes 304, only each time a reflector is indexed therebeneath. Each tube304 at indexing is disposed over the top of a corresponding tube 222(Fig. 4) in a block 221 which, because of the previous properorientation of the reflector, directs the pellet to a ferrule, so thatone and only one pellet 34 is fed to each ferrule at Station 3. The feeddrums 283 are also provided with shields 306 for preventing pelletscarried thereby from going any place other than into the tubes 304.

The shaft 302 is operated by va lever 307 (Figs. 4

emerse.

pawl 308 engaging the ratchet 303; There is also provided a holding pawl310 pvoted to the frame, to prevent reverse movement of the ratchet. Thelever is normally operated by rod 309, the lower end of which is pivotedto the manifold plate 241 by pin 311. A spring 312 between said rod 309and a diagonally extending bracket or strut member 313, urges the rod309 outwardly, so that unless there is a reflector 22 in place in thehead causing the pin 218 and its carried roller 219 to project upwardlythe distance indicated in Figure 5, there will be no motion transmittedto the lever 307 by the rod 309.

This is because the roller 314 on the free end of said lever then merelyrides up and down in the vertical portion of the slot 315 in the head316 carried by said lever. However, when the pirt 218 is in the positionillustrated, its roher 219 engages the cam member 317 mounted onvertical pivot pin 313,` moving the other end of said member toward thecenter of the brazing machine and thereby positioning the head 316inwardly so that the horizontal portion of the slot therein receives theroller 314, and the reciprocating rod thus causes oscillation of thelever, thereby effecting feed of the pellets one by one to theunderlying tubes 304. From the foregoing, it will be seen that at theStation 3 each reflector receives a pellet of solder (or flux) from thehopper` 274.

The mechanism for feeding pellets of ux (o-r solder) 35 from the hopper275 to the tubes222, and fromthere to the underlying ferrules of areiiector, is like the mech anism 271, so corresponding referencecharacters have been applied. itsk drive shaft 319 is operated from theshaft 278 through universal joint 321. Inasmuch as it is otherwiseidentical, a detailed description thereof will not be undertaken. itwill, therefore, be seen that at Station 4, a pellet of flux (or.solder) is fed to each of the tubes 222 and from there to thecorresponding ferrules therebeneath, so that each ferrule then containsuxed solder.

Lead wire feeding mechanism After being indexed at Stations 5 and 6,where further heating of the ferrules is effected, each head is indexedat Station 7 where lead wires are fed thereto While the ferrule heatingis continued. The lead wire feeding mechanism is illustrated in Figures7 to l0, inclusive. A frame-supported hopper 322 holds a supply of leadwires 36 which gravitate over and pass through the apertures betweenthree wedging partitions 220 and the hopper side walls, which aline andguide them to (in this embodiment four) generally parallel lead-feedingslots or exits therefrom, one of which lies under the upstanding right(as viewed in Fig. 9) wall of the hopper, and the others of whichrespectively underlie said partitions, as shown in Figure 9. Underlyingthe partitions is a slidable feeder plate 323 which is moved each time areflector is indexed therebeneath to select and feed four leads, one ineach of the slots 324, 325, 326 and 327, each of the proper size fortaking only one lead, and transport to the right, as viewed in Figure 9,dropping said leads, through the lead-feeding slots in the generallyhorizontal bottom wall 389 of the hopper, into chutes 328, 329, 330 and331, where they are turned to vertical position, after sliding down thediagonal walls 332 thereof as viewed in Figure 7, and finally placedvertically in the ferrules of the reflector tberebeneath being guided bymeans of tubes 333 (Figs. 4 and 7).

On account of the construction of the reflectors for supporting twofilaments, it is necessary to have two lead Wiresrfed to one ferrule,said ferrule being that designated 24 as viewed in Figure 16. Therefore,two of the chutes merge to one before feeding to the tube 333 which isdirectly above the ferrule 24, which happens to be the leading endferrule, so that the merging chutes are those 1 1 numbered 330 and 331.The four chutes thus deliver the leads to three tubes 300, the lowerends of which are held in block 305 secured to arm 310 on tube 360mounted in hopper support coating 340.

The feeder plate 323 is operated from the manifold plate 242, throughrod 334 upstanding therefrom, passing through bracket 337, securedthereto, and adjusted in position by nuts 335 and 336 threaded thereon.The upper end of the rod 334 is pivoted to the arm 338 of bell cranklever 339, mounted on pivot pin 341, passing through bracket 342,extending from the hopper support casting 340 carried by standard 350from the frame of the machine. The other arm 343 of the lever ispivotally connected to link 344, the free end portion of which isslotted as indicated 345, and guidingly receives a pin 346, extendingthrough projections 347 on the end of the feeder plate 323. The feederplate is urged to the right by means of a spring 348, one end of whichis secured to the bracket 342. as indicated at 349, and the other end ofwhich is secured to the pin 346 of the projections 347. This means thatevery reciprocation of the rod 334 tends to push the plate 323 to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 8, and on release it is thereafter resilientlydrawn to the right to feed four leads to the ferrules of an underlyingreflector.

ln order to avoid feeding such leads if there is no reflector in place.wc provide a skip detector comprising a rod 34.9, pivotally mounted inthe tube 360 and carrying on its upper end a crank 352, biased by spring351 to a position blocking feeding movement of the plate 323 by holdingthe projections 347 in their left end position. lt carries on its lowerend an arm 353 which is engaged by the roller 219 when a reflector 22 isin position and turned clockwise, so as to remove the crank 352 fromblocking engagement with the projections 347, and allow the leads to befed to the fer-rules. The reflector with the lead wires in place is thensequentially indexed through Stations 8 and 9" where further heatinginsures that the leads are embedded in completely molten solder.

Cleaning ein! portions of ferrules and cooling in hydrogen At Station10, as viewed in Figures l, 11, l2 and 13, the operation takes place ofdeoxidizing the outer portions of the ferrules 23, 24 and 25, adjacenttheir lower ends. The movement of the cups 37 from which the deoxidizinghydrogen tlows from flexible supply pipe 354, is effected by cam 355 onshaft 49, acting on roller 356 carried hy crank 357 on shaft 358 pivotedin bracket 359 secured to the frame of the machine. The shaft 358 alsocarries crank 361 to the free end of which is secured a cable or chain362 passing over pulley 363, pivoted to the frame of the machine, andwith its other end connected to arm 364 of bell crank lever 365 pivotedto the frame of the machine, and with its other arm 366 connected tolink 367 by pivot pin 368.

The lower end of link 367 is connected to vertical extension 369 fromplate 371 by pin 37). The plate 371 carries sockets 372 secured theretoby screw means or the like 389. The sockets 372 receive rods 373, heldtherein by set screws 376. The upper ends of the rods 373 carry heads374 nesting in the lower ends of coil springs 375, in the upper ends ofwhich nest the lower portions of the hydrogen-burning cups 37. Thesecups include hollow casing portions 377 providing chambers 37S to whicha cooling medium such as water is supplied by llcizible pipes 379 andwithdrawn therefrom by eXible pipes 331.

A consideration of the cam 355 illustrated in Figure ll, will show howthe mechanism described causes the following operations to take place atStation 10. Upon initial indexing of a reflector 22 at said station, itsferrules are hoi' from treatment at preceding stations, and the cups 37are initially in lower position, because the roller rests on portion 382of cam 355 of smallest radius. Shortly thereafter the cam, on turningcounterclockwise, moves the crank 357 from full to dotted position shownin Figure 1l,

as said roller rides up on the portion 383 of the cam of larger butintermediate radius. This moves the cups 37 from which hydrogen flows,from lowered position to the position illustrated in Figure 12, wheresaid cups are close enough to the ferrulcs 23, 24 and 25 to cause thehydrogen flowing therefrom to ignite, indicated as the ames 384, burningthe oxidation from the exterior of the lower end portions 0f saidferrules, until the roller 356 reaches the end of the portion 383,whereupon the cups are further raised by the portion 385 to snuff outthe hydrogen flames 334, as illustrated in Figure 13. The cam then movesfurther and during the engagement of the portion designated 386, withthe roller 356, hydrogen is flowing and leaking between the cupperimeters and the ferrules, effecting the desired cooling. Near the endof the stay at Station the roller 356 descends along cam portion 387,and the hydrogen cups are thereby withdrawn, allowing the recctor to bemoved to and indexed at Station ll.

/iir cooling of the ferritin-2r /t-.t Stations "11 through 15, thereectors during indent-.g are cooled by streams of air blown thereonfrom tubes 33, 39 and 40, as viewed in Figure i4. This treatnientinsures rapid cooling and avoidance of appreciable fer-rulerer-oxidation. At Station 16 the reflectors are transferred by means,already described, back to the conveyor 21. They are withdrawn from theconveyor by any desired means, such as an unloading device 41, fortransfer to a mounting machine (not shown).

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that we have providedapparatus to which sealed beam lamp retlectors. carrying ferrules and anexhaust tube 388, after manual delivery to a conveyor 21 at the rightend portion, as viewed in Figure `l. are automatically processed. inother words, such reflectors are, without further manual operations,transferred to n hrazing machine where each ferrulc thereof has solder,flux, and lead wires placed therein, while being heated so that saidlead wires are securely brazed thereto. The exterior end portions of thefcrrules are then deoxidized in hydrogen flames and subsequently cooledin flowing hydrogen after snufng of said names. Quick further cooling ofthe ferrules in air is then effected to avoid undesired reoxidation.Said ferrules are then transferred back to the conveyor, from which theyare automatically removed adjacent the lefthand end, for processing in amounting machine.

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention has been disclosed, itwill he understood that modifications may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. ln a hrazing machine, a plurality of heads for holding reflectors ofsealed beam lamps, each head carrying a plurality of reflector-clampingcams pivoted about horizontal axes, and keepers associated with each camfor either holding it in unlocked position or releasing it to hold areflector in place, means for lifting a reflector to locking positionwhile simultaneously releasing said keepers to allow the cams to drop tolocking position with respect to said reflector, and means at anotherstation for unlocking said clamping cams and withdrawing the reectorheld thereby.

2. ln a bra'zing machine for sealed beam lamp reflectors, a spider, aplurality of heads disposed circumferentiaily thereabout, each headcomprising a block secured to .the lower face of said spider andincluding passages registering with the ferrules of sealed beam lampswhen secured thereto, so that pellets of solder and ux may be fedthrough said head to said ferrules.

ln a brazing machine for securing leads to thc ferrules of reflectorsfor scaled beam lamps, means for feeding pellets of processing materialto said ferrules comprising a hopper holding said pellets, a notchedwheel for transferring pellets, one by one, from said hopper to eachferrule, a chute for each wheel and along which said pellets slide, afeed drum receiving pellets one by one from each chute, and pawl andratchet mechanism for operating said drums for feeding pellets, one eachto each ferrule, said mechanism being operated by said brazing machinein synchronism with the indexing of heads thereof, so that only onepellet is fed to each ferrule at the pellet-receiving station thereof.

4. In a brazing machine for securing leads to ferrules of reflectors forsealed beam lamps, means for feeding leads to said ferrules comprising ahopper -holding said leads, the lower portion of said hopper havingwedging partitions for the purpose of insuring that said leads lieparallel, the bottom plate of said hopper having a series ofgenerally-parallel lead-feeding slots corresponding in number with theleads per reflector, one of which slots underlies an upstanding wall ofsaid hopper and the others of which respectively underlie said wedgingpartitions, a plate slotted to receive only one lead per slot andslidable over said bottom plate, but under said Wedging partitions,chutes, one disposed beneath each bottom wall slot and each having oneinclined guiding wall engageable by a lead end, so that when leads aredropped thereinto, they are upended to slide vertically into theferrules of a reflector indexed therebeneath, and mechanism forreciprocating said slidable plate so that one lead is fed to each chutewhile a reiiector is indexed therebeneath.

5. In a brazing machine for securing leads to ferrules of reflectors forsealed beam lamps, means for feeding leads to said ferrules comprising ahopper holding said leads, wedging portions in the lower portion of saidhopper for insuring that said leads lie parallel, said hopper having abottom plate with a plurality of generally parallel lead-feeding slotstherein, one of which slots underlies an upstanding wall of said hopperand the others of which respectively underlie said wedging portions, aplate slotted to receive only one lead per slot and slidable over saidbottom plate, but under said wedging portions, and a plurality ofchutes, corresponding in number with said slots, one disposed beneatheach bottom plate slot, said chutes having one inclined guiding wallengageable by said lead ends, so that when-leads are dropped thereinto,they are upended to slide vertically into the ferrules of a reflectorindexed therebeneath, and mechanism for reciprocating said plate so thatone lead is fed to each chute while a reector is indexed therebeneath.

6. In a brazing machine, a plurality of heads for holding reilectors ofsealed beam lamps, each head carrying a plurality of reector-clampingcams pivoted about horizontal axes, and keepers associated with each camfor either holding it in unlocked position or releasing it to hold areector in place, and means for lifting a reflector to locking positionwhile simultaneously releasing said keepers to allow the cams to drop tolocking position wth respect to said reflector.

7. In a brazing machine for sealed beam lamp reflectors, a spider, aplurality of heads disposed circumferentially thereabout, means forindexing said heads through one station after another around theperiphery of said spider, each head comprising a block secured to thelower face of said spider and including passages registering with theferrules of sealed beam lamps when secured thereto,

and means for feeding pellets of processing material to said passagescomprising a hopper holding said pellets, a notched wheel for eachpassage for transferring pellets, one by one, from said hopper, a chutefor each wheel and along which said pellets slide, a feed drum receivingpellets one by one from each chute, a shaft on which said drums aremounted, a ratchet carried by said shaft, a pawl to operate said ratchetfor feeding pellets, one each to each ferrule, and means operated bysaid brazing machine to move the pawl each time said heads are indexed,so that such pellets may be fed through an indexed head to saidferrules.

8. In a brazing machine for sealed beam lamp reectors, a spider, aplurality of heads disposed circumferentially thereabout, means forindexing said heads through one station after another around theperiphery of said spider, each head comprising a block secured to thelower face of said spider and having passages registering with theferrules of sealed beam lamps when secured thereto, means for feedingleads to said ferrules comprising a hopper holding said leads, the lowerportion of said hopper having Wedging partitions for the purpose o-finsuring that said leads lie parallel, the generally-horizontal bottomwall of said hopper having a series of generallyparallel lead-feedingslots, corresponding in number with the number of leads per reector, oneof which slots underlies an upstanding wall of said hopper and theothers of which respectively underlie said wedging partitions, a plateslotted to receive only one lead per slot and slidable over said bottomwall, but under said wedging partitions, a chute disposed beneath eachbottom wall slot and having one inclined guiding Wall engageable by alead end, so that when leads are dropped thereinto, they are upended toslide vertically into the ferrules of a reflector indexed therebeneath,and mechanism for reciprocating said plate so that one lead at a time isfed to each chute while a reflector is indexed therebeneath.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,003,014 Strohl Sept. 12, 1911 1,426,039 Candee Aug. 15, 1922 1,668,530Romine May 1, 1928 1,673,281 Fay lune 12, 1928 1,737,819 Wetmore Dec. 3,1929 1,749,719 Reiter et al Mar. 4, 1930 1,812,390 Wetmore Iune 30, 19311,944,771 Webb Ian. 23, 1934 2,023,628 Van Sant Dec. l0, 1935 2,057,037Kronquest Oct. 13, 1936 2,085,587 Hotchkiss June 29, 1937 2,089,055Flaws Aug. 3, 1937 2,116,387 Driggs et al. May 3, 1938 2,126,074 WisslerAug. 9, 1938 2,317,031 Cotman et al Apr. 20, 1943 2,438,959 BarthelheimApr. 6, 1948 2,496,949 Malhoit Feb. 7, 1950 2,549,868 Vickery Apr. 24,1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 908,187 France Apr. 2, 1946

